Renal cell carcinoma: Case description of cases

Abstract

Objective: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a group of malignant neoplasms with origin in the renal tubular epithelia. These neoplasms represent an average of 90% of all malignant renal neoplasms in adults of both genders. Tobacco has been described in the literature as the main risk factor, other variables such as overweight and obesity have been linked to the mechanisms that participate in inducing these malignant tumors. An increased incidence of RCC has also been described in patients with hypertension. The objective was to determine incidence, risk factors and the clinical and pathological characteristics of renal cell carcinoma based on the results of biopsies performed at the Pathology Department of the San Rafael Hospital in Alajuela.Methods: A review of clinical records and histological boards for each of the biopsies diagnosed as RCC between January 2009 and December 2013 was performed to determine incidence, risk factors, as well as clinical and pathological characteristics.Results: A total of 36 RCC were diagnosed during the period, 27 of them were male patients. The average age of presentation was 60.1 years (43 to 79 years). Out of the total, 21 cases presented a body mass index above the normal range, 26 patients had hypertension and 15 were smokers. The clinical diagnosis of these tumors was incidental in most cases. The average tumor size was 5.7 cm; 86.1% of cases were a RCC with a clear cell type, 58.3% had a histological Fuhrman grade II and 47.2% were early stage tumors (T1).Conclusions: RCC affects predominantly male patients in the sixth decade of life. The most common form of initial presentation is incidental diagnosis. Most tumors are clear cell RCCs, of a low nuclear grade and in an early clinical stage.